Developmental phenotypes and reduced Wnt signaling in mice deficient for pygopus 2

✍ Scribed by Boan Li; Catherine Rhéaume; Andy Teng; Virginia Bilanchone; Jesus E. Munguia; Ming Hu; Shannon Jessen; Stefano Piccolo; Marian L. Waterman; Xing Dai

• Book ID: 102819030
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 658 KB
• Volume: 45
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1526-954X
• DOI: 10.1002/dvg.20299

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Canonical Wnt signaling involves complex intracellular events culminating in the stabilization of β‐catenin, which enters the nucleus and binds to LEF/TCF transcription factors to stimulate gene expression. Pygopus was identified as a genetic modifier of Wg (Wnt homolog) signaling in Drosophila, and encodes a PHD domain protein that associates with the β‐catenin/LEF/TCF complex. Two murine pygopus paralogs, mpygo____1 and mpygo____2, have been identified, but their roles in development and Wnt signaling remain elusive. In this study, we report that ablation of mpygo____2 expression in mice causes defects in morphogenesis of both ectodermally and endodermally derived tissues, including brain, eyes, hair follicles, and lung. However, no gross abnormality was observed in embryonic intestine. Using a BAT‐gal reporter, we found Wnt signaling at most body sites to be reduced in the absence of mpygo____2. Taken together, our studies show for the first time that mpygo____2 deletion affects embryonic development of some but not all Wnt‐requiring tissues. genesis 45:318–325, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.